Mitochondria are tiny organelles within your cells that are primarily responsible for generating the energy your body needs to carry out a multitude of biological functions. A fascinating avenue of antiaging research suggests that the mitochondria also play a significant role in aging, and finding ways to slow or reverse “mitochondrial degradation” could be the key to expanding human healthspan and lifespan.
Age-related deterioration of the mitochondria in our cells is associated with an array of deadly conditions, ranging from senility to diabetes and heart failure. Researchers have recently discovered that this deadly process can be reversed with cellular energizers that help restore and preserve mitochondrial function. Beyond that, even more radical research suggests that “mitochondrial transplantation” could even “cure” aging entirely!
Numerous studies have found that progressive loss of function in the mitochondria speeds up aging and death. Mitochondrial dysfunction has been linked to an array of degenerative illnesses, ranging from diabetes and neurological disorders to heart failure.
These same studies have found that certain supplements and powerful antioxidants like NAD+ and Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) can slow and, in some cases, even reverse this age-induced mitochondrial degradation. Now, the latest research into the mitochondrial therapy of aging suggests that mitochondrial transplantation can take this antiaging therapy to the next level.
Mitochondrial Transplantation
The concept of mitochondrial transplantation revolves around identifying dysfunctional mitochondria and replacing them with healthy, active ones. There have been many reports that indicate such transplantation in cells, tissue, model systems and even in patients has been effective. These include myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury, spinal cord injury, and models of Parkinson’s disease where, remarkably, efficacy has been reported merely after the intravenous introduction of active mitochondria into the body!
It is becoming increasingly apparent that mitochondrial dysfunction is associated with many different clinical defects. Numerous reports indicate that mitochondrial damage can be slowed or reversed by mitochondrial transplantation. While much more research is needed, this is an avenue of study that should be robustly pursued for potential treatments for devastating neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s, and in the process, we may actually stumble upon the cure for aging itself!